Valve



June 2, 1931. Y w T, JONES 1,808,556

VALVE Filed Jan. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 7 fig-Z iQ-ff j @L @WH y .Mr/zaga June 2, 1931. w. T. .JoNEs 1,808,556

VALVE Filed Jan. 26, 192e 2 sheets-sheet '2 feo Patented June 2, 1931 VUNHTEI) STATES Aralar FPi-.cs

YILLlAIvI T. JONES, F NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGOR, BY AS- SIGNMENTS, TO BARNES @c JONES, INC., A` CORPORATIVOEQ' F MASSACHUSETTS VALVE ppn-cation ined January 26, 192s. sei-iai no. aliases.

This invention pertains to automatic valves for controlling pressure fluids and more particularly to a controlling element useful in such a valve. For convenience in disclosure, a trap or outlet valve of the kind used upon steam radiators has been chosen as illustrative ofthe utility of the invention, but without any intention of restricting the invention, in i.s broader aspects at least, to this particular environment.

Automatic valves of this type comprise an actuating element responsive to pressure or temperature variations, and this element usually consists of an expansible metallic cell, bellows or the lilre, to which the valve proper is connected. In order to function properly, the actuating` element must be fluid tight and capable of withstanding the co'nditions of use, for example long exposure to hot steam or moist vapor. These enpansible cells usually consist of several parts which are united by means of solder or its equivalent, butl most soldering materials deteriorate if exposed for long periods to steam, water or other fluids, showing a tendency to dissolve, become porous, or soften, so that such expansible cells often develop leaks or fall apart.

My new controlling element, Comprising one or more expansible metal Walled cells is so designed that the parts comprising it are mechanically clamped together or Yinterlocked, and while solder or its equivalent is preferably employed as a packing to insure tight joints, the solder is not exposed to fluids or gases which might dissolve or soften it and is not called upon to hold the parts of the cell together, so that'the cell thus constructed may be depended upon to remain leak proof for an indelinite time.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one desirable embodiment-of the invention, together with certain steps of a preferred process of making the valve actuating element, but l wish it to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited tothe precise details herein illustrated, either as. respects its mechanical embodiment or the specilic steps or order of steps of the preferred `process, but that various changes in mechanical detailand arrangement andpproportion` of parts, aswell as variations in the process,

may be made without departing from the invention.

In the drawings: C Fig. l is a vertical section illustrating an outlet or'trap valve having the present invention embodied therein; y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. showing the valve unitv partly removed from the casing; Y

Fig. 3 is a plan View, to smallerscale, show-l ing a preferred support orV carrier for the valve proper and its actuating device;

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing amodified construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary-section on the line 5-5 ofFig. 4, butto larger scale Fig. 6 is a vertical section, substantially on the line' 6--6 of Fig. 2, showing details of construction of the valve, itsactuating device and the carrier or support; Fig. 2' is a compositevertical section showing the valve proper and the lower part of thevalve actuating element in disassembled relation;

F ig. 8 is a plan view of the valve proper;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a clamping-nut em.- ployed in connecting the valve to the actuating device;

Fig. l0 is a vertical section illustrating one step in the process of assembling the valve with the actuating device; f Fig. ll is a vertical section illustrating the appearance of the parts vat the completion of the step .shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a composite view .showing in,`

vertical section various Velements employed in the construction ofthe valve actuating deviceand particularly those parts employed in connecting a pair of expansible metalliccells;

Fig. 13 is a composite view showing in vertical section the upper elements of the valve Vactuating'device in disassembled relation;

proved valve comprises, as is usual, a casing 1 which may be of cast iron or other suitable material having the inlet connection 2 and the outlet connection 3. The main body of the casing provides a chamber 4 which communicates at all times with the inlet and which is provided with an annular valve seat 5 concentric with a valve port 6 connecting the chamber with the outlet. The casing 1 is provided with a removable cover7 which is internally screw threaded for engagement with external screw threads 8 on the main body of the casing 1, and this cover is provided with an accurately machined surface adapted to seat in huid-tight contact upon the upperl edge 9 of the main casing. At a point below the plane-of the edge 9, the casing is provided on its interior with one or more abutment elements 1() furnishing a seat sur-k face or surfaces 11 disposed in a plane accu-V rately perpendicular to and concentric with the axis of the valve port 6. The abutment V10 may consist, as Vhere shown, of a single annular rib, and in this event the seat surface 11 will be continuous and uninterrupted. However, such annular rib 10 may be replaced by a plurality of separated lugs or other elements; such lugs being furnished with finished upper surfaces which collectively constitute the seat 11. Y

The valve 12 is properly shaped to cooperate with the valve seat 5 forfclosing the port 6, and this valve is directly connected to and is adapted automatically to open and close the valve in accordance with pressure 'or temperature changes in the chamber 4. This automatic actuatingdevice 13 is firmly united to a carrieror support 14. The carrier oi' support preferably consists of a disk of stift1 metal or other substance possessing but little resiliency and which is preferably bowed to v arch upwardly in a curve of more or less ellipating device and the valve.`

tical form soas to-increase its stiffness and strength. This carrier disk or `plate 14 is preferably of a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter ofthe upper part of casing 1 so as Vto drop freely into the casing and is furnished with a. smooth lower edge 15 which is adapted to seat upon the seat 'surface 11 of the casing and thus to support the valve actu- The carrier 14 rests freely upon the seat surface 11 but has no positive connection to the valve casing, so that by removing the cover 7 this carriei 14 with the parts attached thereto maybe re moved as a unitfroni the casing simply by lifting it from the seat 11. In order to prevent the carrier 14.from lifting from the seat l11 under any extraordinary conditions of use, to center it in the casing, andto assure its accurate and firm engagement with the seat surface 11 at all times, I prefer to provide the carrier 14 witha plurality of upstanding tabs or ears 16 which may be struck up from the metal by a stamping or similar process. These tabs or ears are symmetrically disposed and by engagement with the inclined inner surface of the cover compelvthe support to take a central position in the casing. The ears or tabs possess little if any. resiliency and are quite sti', and when-the cover 7 is screwed down into place, the edge 15 of the carrier isA forced very firmly against the seat 11. Although the ears 16 possess but little resiliency theyare preferably yieldable to a slight eX- tent under the pressure of screwing the cover in place so that there may be no uncertainty inthe proper seating of the cover against the edge 9 of the casing, thus insuring a fluidtight joint at thisv point. The openings formed in striking up these ears provide convenient means for equalizing the pressure above and below the carrier disk.

y In place of the ears 16 struck up `from the shown iii Fig. 4, it is possible to employ a con- Y tinuous piece o'f tubing soldered to the cover, Y suspended upon an actuating device 13 which as suggested, or as a separate element, for example a ring, which may be dropped into place on the carrier 14 Abefore the cover is applied. Any other arrangement for holding the vcarrier 14 down against this sea-t without interfering with the proper seating of the cover may obviously be substituted for the arrangement suggested.

The carrier plate 14 is provided with a central aperture A which receives a part of the valve actuating device to facilitate suspension of the latter upon the carrier. 1 v K 1 Preferably the valve actuating device 13 comprises a pair of eXpa-nsible'metallic cells 17 and 18.: The cell. 17 comp-rises a cupped bottom member 19 and a cupped top member 2O opposed thereto, 4thus providing a chamber for the reception of an-expansible fiuid. The fcell 18 likewise comprises a cupped bottom member 21 and acupped top member 22 opposed thereto to' provide a chamber for'expansible fluid.- The cells 17 and 18 are united, as hereinafter more fully described, and communicate with` eachother expansible or easily volatile fluid, 'for-exam# pl'ealcohol, is placed within the c-hanibersof the actuating device and these'chambers are Y thensealed from the outside, andfwhen this `device is subjected toy variations in temperature, the expansible orvolatile fluid Within ltemperature.

the cell expands or contracts and thus causes the valve 12 to move aXiallywith respect to the carrier 14.

.As an example of the utility of Athis arrangement it may be assumed that the valve is attached to a steam radiator, the connection from the radiator leading to the inlet 2. Before steam is turned on, the valve 12 occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, the cells 17 and 18 being contracted and thus lifting the valve 12 from its seat 5. rThe steam` is thus free to liow through the radiator, through the connection 2 into the chamber 4, and thence outwardly through the port 6 to the'return connection. When the radiator has become h-eated so that hot steam entersthe chamber 4 the expansible fluid within the cells 17 and 18 Vis warmed and expands, thus expanding the-cells and forcing the'valve 12 against the seat 5, Aclosing the passage 6; The flow of steam through the radiator is thus temporarily cut off' and the valve 12 remains closed luntil `water of condensation has collected in the chamber'4 sufficiently to cool off the cells 17 and y18, whereupon they again contract, opening the Valve12 and allowing the water of condensation and entra-pped air to escape., where-upon a fresh quantity of steam enters the radiator.

Since the carrier 14 is substantially rigid, it acts as a solid abutment for the cells 17 and 18 so that the entire expansive effort is exerted in moving the valve 12. The parts 16 or 16a are so strong that under no circumstances does the carrier 14 lift from the seat 11, as I believe that any such action is undesirable and tends to decrease the accuracy and efciency of the valve.

lVhile the carrier 14 is here shown as consisting of a disk or plate, I contemplate that it may be formed as a spider, eitherof sheet `material or as a casting as may be preferred;

andwnile l have here shown the actuating device as comprising two cells, l contemplate that a single cell might be useful under some circumstances or that a greatergnumber than two might be found desirable. I

The actuating` element as here shown and 'as above described comprises two expansible metal cells l17 and 18 andfo-r convenience, accuracy, and reduction 1n cost-I suspend the valve 12 upon the actuating device. Referring toA Fie'. 7 ,the lower wall 19 of the bottom cell 17 consists of a thinmetallicl annulus, preferably corrugated so that it may have the desired degree of stiffness and resiliency, and while other materials may be employed I prefer to use phosphor-bronze in making the walls o-f the v.expansi'ble cells since this materia-l possesses 'the desired resiliency and resistance to corrosion and thc eects of high Preferably this material is coated or plated with tin onboth faces., although this is not essential. rllhe annulus 19 -is provided with a central opening 23 defined by a down-turned flange 24, and it is furnished with an upstanding marginal flange 25 whose edge is turned outwardly in a substantially horizontal plane, as shown at 26. `The valve proper, indicated at 12, is preferably of more or less acorn shape, since this shape is found to cooperate very well with the valve seat without necessitating guides or packing material. To permit proper adjustment or calibration of the device by the manufacturer, l prefer to make the valveI in two parts, the upper part 12a having a screw-threaded stem 12b engaging a threaded axial socket in the lower part. After adjustment by the manufacturer, the parts are vpreferably locked against further relative movement, as for example, `by drilling a hole transversely through the lowerpart 12 and the stem 12b and inserting a pin 12d in the hole, smoothing off the ends of the pin flush with the surf-a ce of the valve, thus making it difficult for inexperienced per sons to tamper with the adjustment. The upper part 12a of the valve 12 is furnished with th'eupstanding externally screw-thread# ed stem 28 which is surrounded by an an nularchamber 29 having an outer wall 27 furnished with an accurately smooth upper surface 30. The channel or chamber 29 is of an external diameter such that the iange 24 of the annulus 19 lits snugly against the outer wall of the channel but leaving a space between the stem 28 and the inner surface of the flange 24. A clamping nut 31 having an internally screw-threaded bore 32 is adapted to cooperate with the threaded stem 28, and when associated with the latter to form a rigid hub for vthe annulus 19. The clamping Anut 31 is provid-ed with recesses 33 for a purpose hereafter described.

ln assembling the parts shown in Fig. 7, the flange 24 is seated in the channel or chamber 29 and the nut 31 is screwed down on the stem 28 until the central portion of the annulus 19 is clamped firmly between the nut 31 'and the surface 30. l/Vith the parts thus mechanically clamped the hub portion is then heated as for example by applying the flame T of a blow-torch, vas. shown Y in Fig. 10, and when the parts are sufliciently Vhot a `aiece of string solder S is'introduced through one of the recesses 33. This solder melts and flows into the space between the stemV 28 and the flange 24, the other recess f providing a vent, forming a body of solder 34 which completely fills kthe channel and the recesses 33. `When this solder solidifles,

v(see Fig. 11) it prevents the nutfromloosening and forms a very efficient packing to prevent leakage between the parts 12a, 19 and 31,

.although this solder is not called upon to bear any mechanical strain in holding the parts in assembled relation. The main body of this solder is protected from exposure to steam or vapor either externally or internally, the only'portions which are exposed at all being the small areas within the recesses 33, and thus the `main body of the solder in the channel 29 is not subject to deterioration from the eilects ofheated fluids or gases.

rThe upper wall 2O of the lower cell 17, as indicated in Fig. 12, consists of a metallic annulus rsimilar to the annulus 19, having a centralopening defined by the rip-turned flange 35. This annulus also has a marginal down-turned flange 36 whose edge` portion is turned outwardly at 37 and `then again downwardly Vait 38. The lower wall 21 of the upper cell 18 likewise consists of a` metallic annulus having the outer marginal upturned flange 39 lwhich is bent outwardly at K 40 and then upwardly again at 41. This annulus has a'central opening vdefined by a down-turned Vflange 42 of substantially the same diameter as the flange 35.

The parts 2O and 21 are connected by means o1 a hub comprising the lower member 43 having an annularseat surface 44 and an Vupwardly extending screwsthreaded stem 45. This lower member is also furnished with an axial passage 46. I also provide a spacer ring 47 having substantially plane and parallel upper and lower surfaces and having a central opening of a properdiameter to receive the flanges 35 and 42 of the members 20 and 2l, respectively. The stem 45 of the part 43 is substantially'smaller in diameter than the openings in the langes 35 and 42, so that when this stem has passed up through these openings and through the opening in the ring 45, an annular space or chamber surrounds the stem 45. l also provide a locking nut 48, substantially like the knut 31 above described, having the p internally screw- 'threaded bore 49 for engagementV with the threaded stem 45 and having the recesses 50. In assembling these parts the lianges 35 and 42 are litted within the ring 47, the stem 45 is then passed up axially through these severalpafrts, and the nut 48 is screwed down on the stem 45, thus mechanically clamping the parts together. After the parts are thus securely clamped together, the central or hub portion comprising the parts 43, 47 and 48 is heated, and solder is introduced through one of the recesses 50. Thissolder 51 .(F ig. 6) fills the annular clamp surrounding the stem 45 and constitutes a packing to prevent leakage between the parts, although this solder is not essential as a means for holding the parts in assembled relation. noted that in this case also the solder-is substantially enclosed betweenthe metal parts so 'that 'it is not subject to deterioration through exposure 'to luids or gases.

The upper wallmember 22 of the cell 18 is furnished with a central opening defined ybythe upstanding gnge 52 (Fig. 13) .and

has thedownwardly directed'marginal ange Vis placed in contactwith the under surface It will be 53 which is turned outwardly at fitsedge, as shown in 54. lI provide a hub member comprising the body part 55 having the downwardly directedscrew-threaded stem 56 and the annular recess or chamber 57, whose outer wall 58 is provided v.with a finished under: surface. This member 55is furnished with an axial passage 59 and has. an upwardly-V extending Yscrew-threaded stem 60. The clamping ring 61, provided with the internally screw-threaded bore 62, isadapted to cooperate with the stem 56. The ring 6l has the `recesses 63, andafter the parts have been assembled by placing the flange 52 in the channel 57 and screwing the ring 61onto the stem 56, solder is poured into one of the recesses 53until the channel 57 is filled.

Having assembled the parts as above described the flangef26 of the lower-member 19 of the flange 37er the part'20 and the flange 38 of the latter part is then bent downwardly and inwardlyv to embrace the flange 26, thus mechanically interlocking the members 19 Vand 2O to form acomplete cell.r In order to assure a fluid-tight joint at this point I next prefer tolieat the interloc-ked flanges as for example by passing a hot soldering iron Cover them until the tin coating of the opposedsurfaces of the metal fuses and coalesces. Y

After completing the lower cell -17 in this manner, the lan'ge 54 of the upper member 22 is placed in contact with the flange40 of the part 21'and the flange41 is then turned over at the'flange 54, as shown in F ig. 14. The joint between the interloeked flanges is now made fluidtight by heating,vas above e described.

Having thus completed tlie'eXpansible actuating element I' pour some eXpa-nsible liquid, for example alcohol-into the interior of the'device through the passage 59,-pref erably partially evacuate the interior of the device, and seal this passage permanently in any suitable'manner, as'indicated at l), Fig. 6.

The threaded stem 60'is fnow'passed upwardly through the opening A at the center of the carrier-plate 14 and aclamping'ring 66 is screwed-'down on'the stem 60and preferably soldered to lock the'partsin position.

The valve parts 12 and 12a are now relatively above described."

The complete unit thus formed, compris ing the carrier plate 14,'the expansible device includingrthe two cells 17N and 18, and the valve proper 12, is now ready for use, and by making the several parts of standard thick` ness and dimensions, as determined by previous experiment, it ispossible to make valve actuating units of interchangeable character and which willV operate with certainty in respense to predetermined temperature or pressure conditions; These interchangeable units adjustedand locked in adjusted position 'as may be Imade in any desired quantity accord-v ing to standard specifications and may be interchanged for o-ne another at will and with assurance of obtaining proper and accurate operation. Such a unit as above described is simply dropped into the opening at the top of the valve casing and when the cover 7 has been screwed down into place the unit may be depended upon to function in the manner desired, although no provision is made for adjustment either of the valve actuating unit itself (after its adjustment by the maker) or of its position in the casing. The vdevice is thus substantially proof against tampering by inexperienced persons, it may be removed from the casing and replaced by another with the least possible amount of work, it'is durable and is not subject to deterioration from the action of hot steam or other hot fluids, and it can be made by a mechanical process which does not comprise expensive or difficult steps.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a. modified arrangement in which the carrier disk 14h is provided with spaced downwardly directed legs 16b having hooks at their lower ends which engage the under surface of the abutment 10, thereby holding the carrier down against the seat surface 1l. VTo facilitate engagement of the hooks with the abutment the latter is provided at suitable intervals with gaps through which the lower ends of the legs 16" may be passed whereupon a. partial rotation of the carrier will Imove the hooks beneath and into engaging relation to the under surface of the abutment.

W'hile one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown by way of example, and while a desirable process including a certain order of steps has been herein disclosed, I wish it to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the precise details here shown and that the process may be varied both as to the order and number of steps without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, while cerf tain advantages, as above pointed out, are obtained by using the specific means described for supporting the actuating element, I contemplate that the stem 60 of the ilmproved actuating element vherein described, might, if desired, be screwed directly into a threaded opening in the cover 7 in accordance with a usual method.

I claim: y

l. An actuator element of the class described, said actuator element having an expansible cell comprising at least one flexible metallic annulus and a central hub member, said hub member having parts which clamp the inner portion of the annulus between them, at least one of said hub parts having a chamber in which the edge of the annulus is disposed, and packing material disposed in said chamber to prevent leakage of fluid.

QsAn' actuator `element ofthe class de-v scribed, said actuator element havingan expan'sible-cell comprising at least one flexible metallic annulus having a flange at itsinner edge disposedV at an `angle to the yplane of the annulus, and a hub comprising a parthaving a screw-threaded stem and anV internally threaded part engaging said-stem,the part having the stem being'provided with a channel concentric with the stem in whichthe flange of the annulus is seated, the parts of the hub clamping the inner part of the annulus between them, one of the hub parts having apassage leading into said channel, anld fusible packing material filling'the channe v 3. An actuator element of the class de* f scribed, said actuator element having an expansible cell provided with opposed spaced flexible metallic walls, each wall being of an-Y nular form, the outer edges of the opposed walls being united, a hub at the cente-r of at .least one of said walls, said hub comprising opposed parts having screw-threaded en- `.ga-gement with each other, said parts clamping the marginal portion of the annular wall between them, one at least of said opposed clamping parts having an annular channel in the face opposed tov the other of said clamping parts,'and solder filling said channel. I Y

4. An actuator element of the Vclassl des cribed,"said actuator element having an expansible'cell provided withopposed spaced flexible metallic walls, each wallbeing of annular form, the outer edges of theopposed walls being united,a hub at the center of at least onerpof saidwalls, said hub comprisingopposed parts having screw-threaded en# gagement with each other,said parts clamping the marginal portion of the annular wall between them, one at least of said opposed clamping parts having an annular channel in the face opposed to the other of said clamping parts, the inner edge of the annular wall forming a flange disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wall and fitting within said channel, andpacking material filling said channel.

5. A valve actuating cell comprising an annular disk of flexible metal, a hub comprising complemental screw-threaded parts, one at least of said parts Yhaving an annular recess therein, the inner edge ofthe disk being dis-V being clamped between said hub and solder filling the recess; n'

7. An expansible metallic valve actuating members,

Vcell comprising an annular disk of lflexible metal having its inneredge portion bent out of the plane of the disk to form a flange, a hub comprising a part having a screwi threaded stem and an annular recess concentric with the stem anda part having an internally screw-threaded bore adapted to receive said stem, the disk/and the stemmed part of the hub being :assembled with the flange of the disk ittingfinto said recess, the second part of the hub being screwed onto said stem, thereby clamping the marginal portion of the disk. between the hub parts, and solder filling the recess. p

8. An eXpansible actuator comprising at least two pairs of complemental shallow annular cups of lexiblewmaterial, an intermediate hub comprisinga part having an annular seat surface and a screw-threaded stem, a

spacer ring, and a nut member engaging the` screw-threaded stem, the inner marginal portion of a cup of one pair being interposed be-Y tween said annular seat surface and the spacer ring, the marginal portion 'of a cup of the other pair being disposed between the spacer ring and said nut member, thennut member clamping the several parts together, their end hub members eachhaving complemental screw-threadedparts, the inner marginal Vportion of the other cup of each pair being clamped between `theparts of one of said'end hubs-respectively7 the cups ofeach pair having interlocking ,outeredges Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts this 21st day of January, 1928.v

WILLIAM T. JONES.v 

